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PETITION 

PRESENTED BY 

Capt. Alexander Patterson^ 

TO THE 

LEGISLATURE OF PENNSYLVANIA, 

DURING 

The Seffion of 1803 — 4, for Compenfation for the M$,ue* 
he Expended and the Services he Renderedin Defence 

OF THE 

PENNSYLVANIA TITLE, 

AGAINST THE 

CONNECTICUT CLAIMANTS, 

IN WHICH IS COMPRISED, 

A faithrul historical detail or important and interring fact 5 

and 1 vents that took place a.\.\IVyomir>g, and 

in the county of Luzerne, &c. 

IN CONSEQUENCE 

OF THE 

DISPUTE WHICH EXISTED 

BETWEEN THE 

PENNSYLVANIA L^ND-HOLDERS, 

AND THE 

CONNECTICUT INTRUDERS, 

Commencing with the Year, 17*/. 




LANCASTER: 
printed by ROBERT BAILEY, suirra 

QUEEN-STREtT. 
1804. 




t 



* 



The Reader 



Wi 



ILL be pleafed to obferre, that fuch parts 
of the following petition as are printed in Italics, were 
erafed from the copy prefented to theLegiflature, and con- 
fequently not read in either Houfe. But it having been 
the wifh of the Petitioner and feveral others, that the 
whole of the Petition, as originally drafted by captain 
Patterfon, fhould be publifhed, it has accordingly been fo 
done ; diftinguifhing, however, by italic letter, the parts 
ftricken out of the copy prefented to the Houfe, as afore- 
faid. 

At one time it was contemplated to fubjoin to the Pe- 
tition, a number of documents which have completely 
fubftantiated the facts and charges therein contained ; but 
finding a great proportion of them very volumineus, and 
others difficult of accefs, it was thought bed to refer ge- 
nerally to thofe records in which the faid documents may 
' be found. Thefe are, The Acls of the Legijlature of the 
Commonwealth ,- The Files and Records of the Land-office 
if Pennfyfaania ; and The Public News-papers publifhed in 
the city of Philadelphia during the period referred to in the 
following narrative. 



PETITION, &c. 



To the Hon. the Senate and House cf Represent 

TAT IVES of the Commonwealth of Pennfylvania, in 
General Afj'embly met. 

The petition of Alexander Patterson, 

of the borough of Eafton, Pennfylvania, 

Refieclfully Sheweth :—• 

X HAT as early as the year 1763, he 
commanded a pod or (ration on the frontier againfl: the In- 
dians. And in the memorable campaign of 1764, to 
Ofwego, Niagara, and Detroit, he was an aclive officer. 
In the year 1769, he was folicited by the late proprietary, 
John Penn, and chief juftice Allen, to take an aclive part 
againft the Connecticut Intruders, who were purfuing an 
unbounded claim to the weftward, comprehending the 
forty-fecond degree of north latitude, to the South fea, 
from the river Delaware. In the month of February, 
fame year, he proceeded with John Jennings, then iherin? 
of Northampton, and others, and brought to Eafton goal, 
the firft forty of the Intruders who had attempted to feat 
themfelves at Wyoming. They were liberated upon their 
parole, promising to give no further trouble to Pennfylva- 
nia. They however with many others returned the March 
following, and pitched at Lahawanack, ten miles above 
Wyoming, on the north-eaft branch of Sufquehannah, 

fomr 



I * 2 

from whence he with others, again brought them ofF, at th« 
diftance of feveniy-five miles ; chiefly through a dreaiy 
wiidernefs, and a bad feafon. 

The enfuing fail, there came upwards of two hundred 
intruders, under the direction of a man of defperate for- 
tune, of the name of Durgee, who built a fort and began 
to till the ground. They attempted to difpofTesthe Penn- 
sylvania fettlers, armed with axes, fithes and clubs : Your 
petitioner was in front of the oppofition, and was feverely 
■wounded in the head with an axe ; the Yankees were de- 
feated and drove to their fort. Notwithftanding the lof* 
of much blood, he that evening fet off in a batteau, fix- 
ty-fix miles down the river, to fort Augufh, at that time 
all the way uninhabited, hired hands, and brought up a 
cannon, met fheriff Jennings with the poffe comnhtatus 
of Northampton, and took thoir garrifon. Previous to 
thin, .your Petitioner had furprifed and taken their coa^. r . 
mander Durgee, who was fafely lodged in the jail of 
Philadelphia. 

In thefpringof 1770, the Intruders came again in con- 
fiderable numbers, headed by a Zebulon Butler ; your Peti- 
tioner was of the party who took them by furprife, and. 
lodged Butler in the prifon of Philadelphia. After a long 
confinement, judge Allen gave him money and clothes, 
on his promifing never more to difturb the Province, and 
difcharged him. But, inftead of performing that folemn 
engagement, he (Butler) proceeded to Paxton, and in- 
duced thofe refractory out-laws, to join him in the infcru- 
iion project. They proceeded U) Wyoming, and after 
having committed murder and many atrocious .crimes, they 
drove the Pennfylvania fettlers into a garrifon, wherein 
was your Petitioner with many women and children, be- 
fseged nearly feven weeks, and was at length obliged to 
capitulate through famine, -and deliver up the garrifon to 
Butler, and the out-law Lazarus btewart; fome lives were 
\o& upon this occafion. 

The 



[ 7 ] 

The Intruders after this, fbrengthened themfelves, built, 
forts, &c. Several of their ringleaders, by way of bra- 
vado, came into the interior of Northampton, to terrify 
the inhabitants ; armed with rifles, tomohawks and fcalp. 
ing knives. Your Petitioner was among the foremoft of their 
captors. They voluntarily fwore before jufliceDepui, never 
moreto aidor abet the Conneclicut Claim, or Claimants ; he 
•with others accompanied thofe bravos to Wyoming, where 
by palpable perjury, they inltantly joined their aflbciate 
ruffians, and pointed their rifles hoflilely againft the friends 
of Pennfylvania, who had relied on their fidelity. The 
September following, your Petitioner was among the mod 
aclive, who again took their garrifon with much enterprife. 
He ftaid at Wyoming with others, to protect the country. 
A Yankee traitor confpired to murder him, he was pro- 
voked into the trap, and was (hot through the arm and re- 
moved to Eafton, under the care of doctor Ledlie ; he 
Jay four months in excrutiating pain, with repeated figns 
of a mortification, and thfe amputating inftruments pre- 
pared for fevering the arm. 

Thofe tranfaclions were in the year 1771. In the 
Ipring of 1772, the Intruders came again and outraged 
the country barbaroufly, murdering captain Ogden and 
others ; but were once more obliged to abandon their pro- 
jecT:, by the coercion of fheriff Kachlein and his pofle. 
The enfuing harveft, the Banditti returned in force and 
difpoiled the Pennfylvania Settlers of their property of eve- 
ry kind. Various meafures were purfued the two fuc- 
ceeding years, for their fubjugation ; your Petitioner 
having way-laid the road frequented by thofe ruffians, and 
conveyed many of them to prifon, which greatly flopped 
their migration, and the extenfion of their fettlement, un- 
til Northumberland became inhabited, and able to refill 
their encroachments. He has gone with his afiociates, 
through the Wildernefs in the night ; taken particular ca- 
pital offenders ; abated the Marauder's fettlements ; and 
expelled the defpicablc herd. 

Late 



C 8 3 

Late in the fall of 1 775, by the particular order of Go- 
vernor Penn, he took the Yankee fort at Walinpapack % 
the dillance going and returning through a deep fnow, ex- 
ceeding one hundred miles. Energetic meafures were 
invariably purfued againft them, until our controverfy 
with Great Britain grew ferious. Congrefs recommended 
that hoflilities mould ceafe during the revolutionary war. 
This recommendation was ftridly acquiefced in on the 
part of Pennfylvania, but difregarded by the feditious date 
©f Connecticut, who extended their blue-laivs to Sufquehannah 
andpoured in their jail-birds in the inter em, thefolemn injundion 
of Congrefs to the contrary neverthelef . In 1 7 82 Congrefs 
was at length induced, at the inftance of Pennfylvania, to 
take cognizance of the difpute, in confequence of which, 
a Congrellional court was convened at Trenton, to hear 
and determine all matters between the two dates. The refulfc 
was, an unanimous decree, that all the controverted terri- 
tory, jurifdiclion and pre-emption, was of the right veiled 
in the ftate of Pennfylvania, the long charter, Lydeas' 
counterfeit dollars and the rafured deed notwithftanding. ' 
Your Petitioner attended this trial at aconfiderable expenfe. 

In the year 1783, the Legiflature improperly interfered, 
end appointed Jofeph Montgomery, William Montgome- 
ry and Mofes M'Clean, Commiilioners, to proceed to 
Wyoming, to endeavour to bring about a compromife be- 
tween the Intruders and the Legal Owners of the land. 
This iveakftep induced thofe vagrants to imagine that this ftate 
ivas afraid of them. In April, fame year, the Commii- 
fioners aforefaid, repaired to Wyoming, with many of the 
rightful owners and former fettlers, who expected no fur- 
ther trouble in their re-poiTeffion. A committee of each 
party was then recommended for the compromife. Your Pe- 
titioner prefided on the part of Pennfylvania, and after e- 
very benevolent offer that could be expected, in prefence 
of the Commiilioners on his part: nothing appeared honed: 
or unequivocal on the part of thofe fons of rapine; fo 
that the Commiffioners perceiving their impudenrevaiion, 
advifed an election by the freeholders, for jullices of the 

peace 



C 9 ] 

into that hot-bed of fedition. The election was so held, 
and your petitioner was elected a juftice, and a fpecial ac* 
was palled the enfuing feflion of our Legiflature to confirm 
it; authorifing him or more upon the return to be com- 
miflioned. He attended the whole of the fefiion in Phi- 
ladelphia, and was commiflioned the firft magistrate for 
that refractory county; he proceeded to Wyoming, hav- 
ing a warrant of attorney from the owners of the land 
to leafe or dipofe of it on eafy and moderate terms; 
fundry of the Intruders came under leafe, but the undue 
influence of Franklin, Buttler, Denifon, Gore, Spalding, 
and other evil-difpofed perfons, induced the lefsees to fore- 
go their contracts, and to purfue their former practices of 
murder and rapine. 

On your Petitioner's arrival at Wyoming as a juftice, 
he found numbers very obftinate, in crouds, with Buttler, 
breathing defiance to Pennfylvaniaand her laws. He was 
not intimidated, but committed their Col. Buttler to Sun* 
bury jail for a high mifdemenonr, at the diflance of fixty- 
fiz miles, who was held in five thoufand pounds bail. 
Neverthelefs, for very miftaken purpofes, the culprit 
found furety and returned to Wyoming, covertly fpiriting 
the Mifcreants in oppofition to the laws of this State. 
Your Petitioner begs the honorable Legiflature to believe 
that he is not actuated by caprice, in giving epithets of 
infamy to the Connecticut Claimants, for it it a fact of 
notoriety, that by far the greateft part of them were cropt 
or branded; that being the infignia of punifliment in the 
penal laws of that inventive State. Such ivcre and are the 
people, improperly cherifloedhy the government of Pennfylvania, 
. to the ruin of her faithful, brave, legitimate citizens. He fur- 
ther begs the indulgence of the legiflature for his digreflion, 
.-animadverfion, fententious axioms and propefitions; yet the 
conceives it a duty he owes to the prefent Legiflature, to 
himfelf and fellow fufferers, with fubmiffion, to ftate facts 
and (hew the iniquity and impropriety in retarding, with- 
holding or bartering the property of individuals without 
their confent, under a feigned and ilimfy pretext of ex- 
B pedience 



[ IO ] 

pedience. Imparing of contra&s is a flagrant violation 
qf the conftitution, and a ferious and dangerous precedent; 
as encouraging depredation, felony and intruiion, is novel. 
It is humbly conceived, that it is not of neceflity that the 
Conftitution and ancient eftablifhed laws, mould be dif- 
genfedwith, for fear of, or favour to a handful of vagrant 
interlopers in Luzerne. On the contrary, it is devoutly 
wifhed, that the laws in operation now in tneir favour, and 
.injurious to your own apcient citizens, be repei . I 

others inftituted ; whereby their pofieffions may be re' 1 
in a fummary way, and at length have reafbn e 

foftering hand or that government, which e uni- 

formly fuppoi ted with their blood and tiu/ure. 

But to return to your Petitioner's official duties at "Wy- 
oming, he found himfelf. by the,!, gerous combin 
of the banditti and their abettors, unable to put the h.<r 
in due opperation. He, therefore, the eiiluing 'c'.liyn of 
our Legiflature, applied for protection in the execution f 
his mifhon. They granted three companies ci rneo.; he 
was honoured with the nomination c>f tne commanding,'! 
and mod of the other officers; the troops were Ibori rai- 
fed and arrived at Wyoming, under whofe protc Jion 
a great number of Pennfylyama people were re-fettled upon, 
their former pofleflions. In the fummcr of 1784 they. 
did not raife lefs than thirty thoufand bnfhels of' 
grain. Our legiflature met again, party ran high, and 
they imprudently patted a refolution to difcharge the troops 
at the period they were mo ft necelfary, under the idea 
of its being unconftitutional to employ them in time of 
peace. Thus were they difcharged, and the Infurgents . 
thereby encouraged to rob, murder and baibarouflymal-treat 
the Pennfylvan'a fettlers indifcriminately, at their labour. 
They were armed in hordes in the woods, bands of whom 
would fally forth, and commit attrocities the moft inhu- 
man. They drove men, women and children into a 
garrifon, and beGeged them, conftantly firing and fre- 
quently wounding thofe expofed to it. So regardlefs 
were they of the laws of this State, that they came to 

Northampton 



[ n 3 

Northampton, and fhot Mr. Everret and wounded others, 
who Were on their way in fupport of government, and 
eventually defpoiled the fettlers of all their grain, horfes, 
cow; , iheqi, twine, waggons, ploughs and houiehcld fur- 
niture. In that feafon, (1784), your Petitioner, fup- 
poi ted upwards of one hundred and twenty men, at his own 
we', in defence of the rights of Pennfylvania, for 
more than four months ; befides expofing his life and 
ling his time and property, againff. a fet of abandon- 
Ib'cs, excluded from fociety in every part of the 
Union, whofe practice had long been to bully the State 
.iage its citizens. He was relieyed from the feige 
t r.uhtia, commanded by brigadier-general Arm- 
! who at that time was Secretary of this State. 

Pi to this, in the latter end of May, the Pennfyl- 

vania Settlers, had availed themfelves of a favourable op- 
portunity, and put the Intruders off, in like manner as 
the Yankees had done unto them heretofore. This gave 
a handle to ce.tain unprincipled fpeculators, by whofe un- 
due influence, ah impolitic law was paifed, to re-poflefs the 
intruders; whereby the legal owners of the land were 
ruined, inftead of receiving protection, reward, and fanc- 
tion. 

In <&i\s phfehjy of the Legiflature, they fent Jonas Hart- 
zel, Robert Brown, and Jacob Stroud, at that time mem- 
bers from Northampton, to enquire into the conduct of 
the Pennfylvania officers, in cor;fequ:nce of a mock pe- 
tition from the Injurgents. Stroud had always been noto- 
rioufly favourable to the Intruders, and dilcovered great 
partiality in the inveltigation. Your Petitioner, therefore, 
had him arraigned in the Houfe, the enfuing feflion, and fub- 
ftantiated the facts in this fimple bufinefs by his colleagues. 
No blame did or could attach to the Pennfylvania officers, 
whofe duty it was to rid the country of the moll infamous 
set of wretches ever collected in any part of the terraque- 
ous globe. Stroud having clandeftinely furnifhed the In- 
truders with public arms and ammunition, and having ac- 
knowledged a variance fubiifting for fourteen years betwixt 

him 



I » 3 

him and your Petitioner ; he was emphatically told by the 
Speaker, that he was an unfit perfon for a Commitlioner 
in the inftance. Your Petitioner's duty imperioufly de- 
manding his attendance at Wyoming, further enquiry 
of Stroud's guilt was poftponed, as will appear upon the 
minutes of the Houfe, or he would have been expelkd 
with his ufual infamy. Your Petitioner fupported and pa;d 
the chief part of the expenfes of upwards of forty perions 
from Wyoming to Philadelphia, in the dead of winter in 
1 784 and 1 785, to give evidence before the Supreme Ex- 
ecutive Council, of the robbery and other depredations 
committed upon them and others, by the Connecticut Ra- 
vagers under the immediate direction oj 'their commander , John 
Franklin, 

In the enfuing fpring, your Petitioner, employed cap- 
tain Enoch Anderfon, at Trenton, to go to Wyoming to 
find out the purpofed projects of the Yankees, as they 
had fuggefted the idea of a new Hate. Captain Anderfon 
was directed to meet your Petitioner at New- York, where 
Congrefs was fitting, and where he had carried the tefti- 
mony taken by the Secretary of this State, as before ob- 
ferved, by which means our delegate and eounfel, Mr. 
Wilfon, defeated the motion of the Connecticut Johnfbn 
for a new trial. Congrefs was apprifed of their vil- 
lainous purfuits, and would have nothing further to do 
with the Mfcreants. All thofe expenfes, your Petitioner 
paid out of his own pocket, and by men of confederation, 
they will not be deemed inconfiderable. The next year 
our Legiflature injlituted the infamout county of Luzerne, 
eonfequently the Leaders of the Banditti were tommijfioned^ 
as if trampling upon the laws, and every fpecics of the black- 
cjl criminality, were a recommendation to pofls of honour and 
prrfit. The above, and the unconflitutitnal Confirming Law, 
as it was called, was brought about by Pickering, Will-' 
fon, Morris, Fitzfimmons, Clymer, and others, of the 
ariftocratical faction, whofe projects were to purchafe all 
the fat lands in the vicinity of Wyoming, at a little price, 
and fo become lords of the manor j but the Yankees found 

out 



C '3 ] 

out the fchemes cf their renegado brother Pickering, tied 
him among the nmfquetoes in the woods, put fire co his 
houfe and afterwards exiled him. 

"The fad cjfeds of all this is, that the State has unduly car- 
rcjfed its inveterate, defpicabk enemies, chcrijlied evil-doers, 
and neglected merit. Run the State to an enormous expenfe, 
in enabling laws and repealing them, and trains of thnejerving, 
needy, poltroon, upjlart commiJRoners, and ufelefs agents ; 
fawning fycophants, degraded ' , fhamelefs and ' impudent traflo, whs 
for fear of being difcontinued in pay, have the effrontery to advo- 
cate the Intruders, and prolong their falaries at the txpehfe of 
whom it may concern ; to drain our Treafury and flop the 
courfe of jujtice, to the ruin of many individuals who have 
fairly purchufed and paid their money, before thofe gentry had 
emerged from that obfeurity where they ought to have been eter- 
nally configned. Thoufands, with your petitioner, have long 
wondered what could infatuate the former Legiflatures of this 
State, to befo indulgent and favourable to the Conneclicut In- 
truders. Liberality may conjlrue it into impoftion ; but it 
has beenfhewn that all have not been impofed upon, and thai 
fome have been aSuated by motives difhonourable to themfelves, 
the State and their conflituents, confeqnently bad preceptors to 
their fuccejfors. 

Your petitioner begs leave to mention fome caufts, which he 
imagines, in all human probability, could not induce fo much 
fraternity and partial favour . He believes that the honour. 
of having John Franklin, a member of tbe Legiflature of 
this State, could hardly have induced it ; becaufe he has been 
uniformly oppofed to the rights of Pennfylvania, and has ad- 
vocated the Conneclicut Claim, on the floor of the Leg'flature 
of this State, contrary to his oath of office ; Nor becaufe he 
was twenty months in clofe confinement in the prifons of this 
State, for mifprifion of Treafon, or violating the terms of his 
liberation, by taking the lead in further intrufton ; Nor becaufe 
he headed a band oj Proclaimed Ruffians, who robbed the 
Pennfylvania Settlers at Wyoming, in the fall of 1784* of 
all their property ; Nor becaufe it it believed, that he governed 

the 



thcvfrdift which acquitted Jtiet Thomas, of tic barb 
nairdirof.ee bur Ertviri, a gentleman of large pro- 

perty and much re/pe-Sabtify, 7 his cataf.ropke has evinced 
might, or may be expetled from, juries in tht aunt} oj 
!.: %eriie ; Nor can it bt fuppofed that it was the fefpedab'dity 
of the Intruders', which made them Jvch favourites, for their 
great offender and leader, Butihr, as was currently reported, 
had fled his country, concealed in a load of hay ; Nor could it 
he, for what has been already faid of cropping and branding ; 
Nor the cruel murder of Nathan Qgden, Je/je I.v.hens, Wil- 
liam Richards, and others, with innumerable atrocities oj the 
hightji criminality. 

The burthen of the Intruders complaint, by which they 
Iiave hitherto excited falfe commiferation, retted upon the , 
cruel treatment they fay they have received from the Pcv.n- 
iylvania Settlers, the Indians and Tories. The firtt of 
thefe complaints, viz. The Pen nfydvania Settlers, has been 
fairly explained in the preceding part of this petition. 
The latter, receding the Indians and Tories, fhall be 
faithfully detailed. 

In the year 1776, there were a number of inhabitants 
fettled on the north-eaft branch of Sufquehannah, near 
Wyaiuung, under the Pennlylvania Title. Among thofe 
were two brothers of a refpeclable family from Montgo- 
mery county, by the name of Pauling, who had paid one 
thoufand pounds in cafli, in gold and iilver, for their farm 
at Wyaluting, unto Joab Gileway, a uleful, well informed 
Indian, who had obtained a grant for faid land from the 
late Proprietaries of this State ; among the fettlers were 
the MtrTrs. Secords, Dcpew, Vanderlefs, and many other 
wealthy farmers ; the Yankees at Wyoming being more 
numerous, and though at the ditiance of fixty miles, infift- 
ed that the Pennfylvania Settlers mould come to Wyom- 
ing and train, and aflbciate under Yankee officers of their 
own appointment As may be fuppofed, the propofal was 
very obnoxious to the inhabitants of Pennfylvania, and ve- 
ry properly refufed, alleging that they would aflbciate by 

themfelves 



[ *| ] 

themfelvcs, and would not be commanded by Intruders, 
who had fo repeatedly facked the weil difpofed inhabitants 
of Pennfylvania, and at that time bid defiance to its laws 
and juiifdiclion. This gave a pretext to the Yankees for 
calling them Tories ; they therefore went in force, snd 
tied the Pennfylvania Settlers, and brought them to Wyom- 
ing with all their moveables, and confined them in a log 
lioufe, until the Indians who lived in the neighbourhood 
of Wyalufing, and who loved the Per.nfylvanians, and at 
that time were well affected to the United States, feme of 
whom had joined our army. Tbofe Indians came to Wy- 
oming, and requeued that the Pennfylvania people fhould 
be releafed from confinement; after fome altercation and 
the Indians declaring that they would complain to Congrefs, 
they were releafed, and on their return without property, 
were ambufhed and fired upon by the Yankees. The 
event of all this was, that the Pennfylvania People were 
; fo harrafTed by the Intruders, that they were driven to feek 
an afylum with the Indians, and at length retire to Nia- 
gara for protection. It was well known at that time on 
the frontiers of Northumberland and Northampton, that 
thv conduct of thole Yankees occafioned the cecefiion of 
the Five Nations from the United States. As was natural 
to imagine, thofe Pennfylvania Settlers, who had been fo 
cruelly robbed of tbf/r property would endeavour to re- 
gain it, their addrefs and moving complaints, induced Jo- 
feph Brandt, a weil known Indian chief, and a colonel 
Buttler, Superintendint of Indian Affairs, to come with 
them to Wyoming, with a number of Indians, for die re- 
covery of their goods and chattels. The party had arrived 
at a place called Abraham's plains, about five miles above 
Wyoming ; the Yankees were apprifed of their being at 
that place, and muir. nee. s go fight them, led on by the 
old murderer Lazarus Stewart, fhfr. having drank two 
barrels of whifky to ftimulate their fpirits ; they marched 
in riot, with drums beating and colours flying, Therefult 
was, that a number of them were killed ; thofe who afked 
quarters were humanely treated, nor was a woman or child 
moleflcd, only enjoined to quit the country and leave it for 

the 



c 16 3 

the rightful owners. Surely there was no propriety in 
calling thattranfaclion a maflacre or murder.; the wretches 
brought it upon thcmfelves, and fo be it. Your Petitioner 
had at that time, been affigncd a diftricT: in the Quarter- 
Mafter General's Department, north of the mountain in 
Jerfey and Pennfylvania, by major general Greene and 
colonel Hooper. Notwithstanding the former enmity, 
all the Vagrants that left Wyoming at that time, came 
to him for fuccour, his charity fuperceded prejudice, and 
for their fupport ordered them rations out of the public 
ftores ; if there were any widows among them, they were 
very merry ones, and their conduct induced no refpecl, 
nor could it be expected, as molt of their women, like their 
men, were of the loweft order of beings. 

The above fufferings, as they have been called, and 
many more ill-founded reafons, have been improperly 
urged as a palliative, for the unconftitutional interpofition 
ot the Legifiature, who have ivantonly ruined as meri- 
torious, aclive and brave citizens, as any ever bred in the 
State. They have made bargains for them, in which 
they have had no agency ; the bufinejs has hither, ^ fax ■cured 
more of defpotifm than republic anifm. But <wby this im- 
lofcming, carrejfmg, and temporifing with vagrant Intru- 
ders ; This medly farce of iniquity 1 Retrofpe8 the rabble 
fo patronifed, and balance their merit with thofe who have 
defended your country againfl their inroads; common honeHy, 
and humanity revolt at the idea. It is the bounden duty 
of a Legifiature to remedy evils, however they may have 
crept in or originated, whether through the rancor of 
party fpirit, impq/ition, or fpeculative views. The fooner 
wrongs are remedied the better; it is never too late to do 
good. The mod lively hopes are therefore entertained, 
that the prefent Legifiature will take the molt efficient 
meafures for the recovery and protection of their an- 
tient citizens' property, which has been fo long with- 
held by violence and perfidy, and thereby acquit their 
confeiences, and at length cftablifh juft principles, redoun- 
ding to their honour and fame. 

Further 



C *7 ] 

Further, to induce the honourable 'Legiflature to a 
favourable recognition of your Petitioner's clairaf, he begs 
leave to fubjoin, a fummary narrative of his transactions 
in the army of the United States in the revolutionary war. 
He was commiflioned by Jhis .'excellency, John Hancock, 
fir ft captain, in die twelfth Pennfylvania regiment, early 
in 1776, and had often the honour of commanding it bv 
reafon of indifpofition of the colonel, and incapacity of 
the other field-officers. After the capture of the Heflians 
at Trenton, the battle of Princeton, he was ftationed 
during the refidue of that winter and fpring, on the moft 
advanced poll in the American army, being within one 
mile of Bonhamtown, New-Jerfty, where the Britifh 
71ft regiment and royal Highlanders lay. General 
Wafhington's head-quarters being at Mornstown, twenty 
miles in the rear, and Howe's army in Brunfwick. Few 
days paffed in the months of February, March or April, 
that he did not fkirmifli with the enemy; they being in 
want of forrage, &c. were often endeavouring to plun- 
der the country, and were as often happily drove in. 
During the above enumerated months, he fought the 
Britifh fundry times, with fuccefs; in April by a particular 
order from the General, he commanded a feledt body of 
men, with which he took the Britifli picquet at Bonham- 
town, an account of which may be feen, on the files of 
Hall and Seller's news-papers, under the Philadelphia head, 
April 23, 1777. The duties in the above year were 
arduous. He had general thanks on the public parade for 
fignal addrefs in the battle of Brandy wine. In Ger- 
mantown he loft his lieutenant and many brave foldiers: 
at White-marfh his fuperior knowledge in difcipline, was 
efteemed by general Conway, who poflefled a greater 
knowledge of tacticks than any man in America. In 
the memorable wet day and night near the Paoli, your 
Petitioner, put his baggage into the regimental quarter 
mailer's waggon, who deferted to the Britifh, with the con- 
tents, and did not leave him a fecond fhirt; thofe lofles at 
that period were not eafily replaced. On the reduction 
of the Pennfylvania line, he was immediately afligned a 
C diitria 



C l8 ] 

diftrict in the quarter-matter general's department, by 
major general Greene and colonel Hooper, as has been 
faid. It is fufficientto fay, that he acquitted himfelf with 
alacrity and promptitude, and to the entire fatisfaction of all 
the general officers, and gentlemen with whom he had 
ought to do. He never received commutation, arrears 
of clothing, nor donation lands from this State. 

The honourable Legiflature, will pleafe to excufe a 
fliort recapitulation in fumming the fads, wherein your 
Petitioner has fhewn,that as early as 1763 and 1 764, he 
was in the American fervice in various fuccefsful fituations 
on the frontier againft the Indians, to Ofwego, Niagara, 
Detroit, &c. that in, and fince the year 1769, he has been 
among the »o(l active, in oppofition to the Connecticut 
Claimants, and in many conflicts with them. He 
has been twice feverely wounded by them. That he uni- 
formly continued the oppofition, until the interpofition of 
Congrefs, at the commencement of the war, previous to 
which, for upwards of five years his exertion and enterprife 
in behalf of this Mate have been perhaps unequalled, and 
are of fuch a nature that he fondly hopes they will imprefs 
the Legiflature favourably in his behalf. The proofs ac- 
companying this petition, will fhew his claim to merit in 
the line of the army, as in other capacities. It will alfo 
be perceived, that in 1783, as has been faid, that he was 
by a fpecial act of our Legiflature, commiflioned the nift 
juftice of the peace to introduce the laws of Pennfylvania, 
among a neft of the moft atrocious villians that were ever af- 
fembledonearth. It may beeafily conceived, that this under- 
taking required fortitude and enterprife; how far your Peti- 
tioner pofleiTed thofe qualities, may be gathered from the 
ftrictures in his petition. The whole tenourof his conduct 
his dangerand expenditure will induce a belief thatall hisef- 
forts were well intended. Our Governor's letter to the Go- 
vernor of Maryland, dated the 25th of October 1802, re- 
fpecting the Sufquehannah navigation, very pointedly 
and juftly obferves, that " He who trufts to a Legiflative 
fecurity ought never to be a loofer." This will appply in 

fimilar 



L '9 1 

fimilar cafes, and in none ftronger, than that of your Pe« 
tioner, who has fpent his blood, his treafure and the belt 
part of his days, in faithful fervices to this State. It 
will furely be conceded that the vigorous and early oppo- 
sition made to the Intruders, by your Petitioner, his a£ 
fociates and followers, mod of whom have paid the debt 
of nature, have obvioufly faved to this State, the whole 
of the forty fecond degree of north latitude, to the weftern- 
rooff. boundary of Pennfylvania, from the river Delaware, 
from being over-run by the Connecticut Claimants, their 
aiders and abettors. To prove this pofition, needs only to 
know the perfeverence of the Intruders, and at that early 
period there were no inhabitants in Northumberland, nor 
any fettlements of white people to the weftward, where- 
by the dangerous and daring intrufion could have been 
repelled. We have a fpecimen of the confequences that 
would have enfued from the inconfideiable handful yet 
remaining ; that portending, immenfurable evil has been 
happily limited to Wyoming and its vicinity, whereby an 
incalculable fource pf wealth has confequently flowed 
into your treafury. 

Your Petitioner, therefore, humbly conceives that few 
. perfons have rendered more beneficial fervices to the 
State. He prays that the honourable Legiflature, how 
that he is old, will make fuch provision for him as 
may render the refidue of his days comfortable. It will 
be no more than honeftly compenfating him out of his own 
earning ; he hopes to be placed above the viciffltudes of 
fortune, with a peafion and rations for life, commencing 
and commenfiirate with his rank. In his advanced ftage 
of life, an annuity modified as above, mult foon ceafe by 
the courfe of nature. He has a firm reliance upon the dig- 
nity of the prefent Government ; but fhould it be fuggefted 
that part of the enumerated fervices were rendered be- 
fore the State was purchafed of the late proprietaries, and 
therefore not obligatory on the State after the purchale; 
for anfwer, every incumbent and contract antecedent, is 
a lien upon the purchgfer, particularly where a perpetuity 

of 



[ 20 ] 

of benefit derives to the State. Your Petitioner .has no 
doubt that had the State remained in the family of the 
Penns, and he fo applied, they would at leaf! have com- 
penfated him with a grant of land which would have ren- 
dered him independent, and perhaps his children's child- 
ren. He perceives no principle why the State fh 
be lefs jufr and generous, or turn a deaf ear to merit and 
a well founded claim, nor that the time, blood and treafurc 
of an individual fo liberally expended, fhould be abibvbed 
in the confluence, ur flain the riling glory of our enviable 
happy country. 

Having thus far evinced the merits of his claim, he 
cheerfully confides it to the benignity of the government, 
with one further remark and effort to imprefs the fubject, 
that the exprels act of AfTcmbly of I 783, for corrmijTioriing 
him, the railing troops for protecting him, the Preliuent's 
proclamation for apprehending certain Connecticut Ban- 
dittii, who grievioufly, wounded Henry Brink and Wilhcl- 
rous Van-Gurden, who were at that time under your Pe- 
titioner's particular orders, with others, protecting the Penn- 
fylvaniafettlers at their labour from Franklin' sravagers;alu* 
the Secretary's reqv.ilition to him, to draw forth the well af- 
fected inhabitants in that country in aid of the militia again ft 
the Intruders, who were accordingly fo drawn out; all (hew,- 
that he had the confidence and concurrence of the Execu- 
tive. He was three months waylaid by the Yankee defpe- 
radoes, who avowed their pur.pp.fe of afTaffinating him ; they 
fet fire to the houfe in the night, over his head, murdered 
captain Samuel Reed, in the bed with him, and cruelly 
v/ounded captain Andrew Henderfon. 

Your Petitioner refpeetfullyaflisindulgence for a fhort com- 
ment upon arecentpublicationintheLuzemeFedetahir. and 
Sufquehannah Intelligencer, asitisarrogantlyentitled, print- 
ed by A. and C. Miner, in ten numbers, which they term a 
ftatem.eqtt of facts, by the directors of the Sufquehannah com- 
pany in behalfof themfelvesand all concerned, andaddrelTed 
to their fellow-citizens of the United States, under thefigna- 

ture 



ture of Samuel Avery, Prefident, and Joieph Kingfluiry, 
clerk, pro. tem. dated Uifter, September 13th 1803. 
Strangers to thofe plunderers and their impudent nefa- 
rious purfuits, will pafs their libelous numbers unnoticed, 
only wondering, what can be the intention of the pub- 
lication by thole endlefs pelts to fociety. But thofe who 
have any knowledge of them, will perceive that this is 
no new fpecimen of their calumny. Should the Le- 
giflature of Pennfylvania, or any of its members, 
deign to read their fcurrilous publications, they will 
find them calculated to excite pity, or to appear formi- 
dable, and either way to induce further legiflatioji in 
their behalf; but furely their numbers, which out-number 
all calculation in falfehood, fo replete with dilingenuity, 
declamation and impertinence, mud at length convince 
the Legiflature that all former favour and indulgence 
to fuch outrageous rabble have been fadly mifplaced, as 
there appears to be no end to their unfounded claims, 
complaints and daring impudence. There is a firiking 
likenefs in their difpolition to the wolf, tame, fupple and 
fawning, when in trammels ; but unfetter them, and your 
eountfyis ravaged. Wherever a record of this State ha 
recognifed their villainy, they have perverted and wre fl- 
ed its meaning, as a deiftical preacher does his text, 
to give currency to his infernal doclrine, and cover in- 
vention, without refpeel to truth, honour or honefcy. 
Your Petitioner, would be greatly difappointed, if thofe 
Itenerant Adventurers, could part from the character of 
their predeccflbr, Lydeas, who purchafed their claim of 
the Indians, with counterfeit dollars, or the authors 
of the rafured deed ; on the contrary, they have out- 
Jyed all the fwindling, peregrine, cropt and branded 
/tape-gallows, from the far famed State of Connefticut. 
Your Petitioner, moft refpeftfully fubmits his Claims to 
the honourable Legiflature of Pennfylvania, confident that 
his Heady perfeverance in fupport of her rights, maintain- 
ing at every rifle, with the utmoft conftancy and unre- 
mitted exertion, the fovereignty of the State, will induce 
the honourable Legiflature, to grant him a generous re- 
muneration 



[ 22 ] 

numeration, when gratitude will excite your Petitioner, as 
in dutj bound, to pray. 

ALEX. PATTERSON. 



NOTE. — The Documents accompanying the above Petition, 
have fubjlantiated the fails therein, and fully convinced the 
Legislature, ( "John Franklin, and a few of h's ajp.ciales 
excepted J of its authenticity, as will appear from loth Houjes 
having pajfed an atl in favour of the Petitioner, which <ivas 
approved and fgned by Governor M'Kean, on the tenth 
day of February 1804. 

ALEX* PATTERSON. 

Lancafter, February 12th, 1804. 



<£jP Sitice the preceding pages were put to prefs, the follow- 
ing papers have been delivered for publication, with a view, 
to have them annexed to Capt. Pattcrfon's Petition. The 
motives jor thus connecling them with that petition are 
two-fold— -firft to exhibit the unexampled effrontery, and 
total difregard of law, juftice and the folemn decifions 
of the higheft judicial courts known within the United 
States, of thofe violators of our laws, the Connecticut 
Intruders ; andfecondly, tojhew that their own language, 
exprejfions and epithets, are as harjh and exceptionable, as 
any that have been ufed by Mr. Patierfon, but without 
having the famejuft caufefor vjingthtm that that meritorious, 
but unfortunate fujferer had. 

The following papers are perfeSly genuine, and their au- 
thenticity may be implicitly relied upon. The Jirft of 
them was read by Mr. Mac lay, in his place, in the 
Houje of Reprefentatives, on the difcvjfwn of the Bill for 
tdlowing an annuity to Capt. Palterfon, and is extraSed 



L *3 J 

From the Luzerne Federalifl, aud Sufquehannah Intelligen- 
cer, printed at Wilkefbarre, by A. and C. Miner, 
under date of Auguft 20th 1803. 

« COMMUNICATION. 

" At a meeting of the inhabitants and Settlers of Sugar- 
creek-ftttlement (fettled under the Connecticut Sufque- 
hanna Company's purchafe) at the-4ioufe of J. Ballad, the 
2d. on faid creek, on Monday the iothday of Auguft, 
1803: — Nathan Fellows was chofen chairman and 
Nathaniel Allen, clerk, of faid meeting. After tak- 
ing into consideration the fituation of the fettlers and 
inhabitants fo as aforefaid convened, and what may be the' 
objecT. or views of the adverfe claimants, in fending an a- 
gent or fpy, amongft us — It was unanimoufly Rcfolved : 

1 ft. That we believe we have a juft, regular, ancf 
genuine title to the lands which we now poSTefs and occu- 
py, — That our title is derived, and can be regularly traced 

from THE GREAT PROPRIETOR AND MAS- 
TEROFTHE UNIVERSE, whom weexpetf and firmly 
believe, will defend us as a warrantee: provided weforfake 

. him not, nor turn afide to accept offers made from thofe, 
whom we befieve have no better right to the lands in 
queftion than Satan had to the kingdoms of the earth 
which he Shewed our Saviour from the Mount. 

2d. That the example our Saviour there fet us,, 
ought to be the one for us to follow, as we believe we 
cannot ferve God and Mammon at the fame time; nor 
can we at prefenfc fee any medium between the two; to 
liften therefore, to any colloquial propositions of a falfe 
import, propofed, propagated or handed about, by thofe 
who we believe are employed by a fet of fpeculators who 
wiih to involve us in ruin, is incompatible with eur true 
intereft, and would be highly derogatory to our understand- 
ings as men poffeffing equal rights and equal immunities 
with all she citizens at. large. 

3rd. Trjat 



c 2 4 : 

3d. That we believe the perfon who has lately been 
among us in the character of an agent, to be no better than 
a fpy, who wifhes to afcertain our names, and places of 
abode, for illicit purpofes, to injure us in our jufr rights. 
And we alfo ftrongly fufpeft, from good grounds, that this 
iame pretended agent, or fpy, was fometime laft fall, a- 
mongft us in the habiliments of a beggar, and with an 
aflecled appearance of infanity, feeking out our habitations, 
and traveling all our roads and by-paths. 

4th, That the above refolutions be figned by our chair- 
man and cleik, and tranfmitted to the printers of the Lu- 
zerne Federalifr. andSufquehannah Intelligencer, with a re- 
quest that the fame may be inferted therein ; and likewife 
a copy of a letter direcled to Dodt. Rofe, by us the per- 
fons compoiing the meeting aforefaid. 

NATHAN FELLOWS, Chairman. 
NATHANIEL ALLEN, Clerk," 



** Copy of a letter fent by the fubferibers , to Dr. ROSE, ivho 
stiles himfelf agent for the Pennjylvania land-jobbers, 
claiming land, owned and occupied by the fubferibers^ 
Connecticut Settlers. 

Burlington^ August ift. 1 803. 

" DoSor Rofe, 
Sir, 
A long and unhappy difpute has exifted in this country 
in refpe£t to the land which affords fubfiftence for our- 
felves, our wives and our children. The title to thofe 
lands we have honeftly purchafed, and fincerely believe 
-vve can trace a regular chain of title from THE GOD OF 
NATURE. Still, Sir, there feems to be power verted in * 
certain portion of our fellow mortals to harrafs and opprefs 
us. In this pofture of events, you have appeared among 

us 



c 25 r 

us, afluming the character of a mediator, but have (hewn 
no evidence of authority from any man or fet of men. 
You ailume to offer terms, but do not deign to exprefs 
what they are. — You have with unwearied pains, traverfed 
every part of our fettlement, endeavoring, as far as in 
your power, to pradice on us the vileft impositions; to de- 
stroy that harmony which unites us like a band of bro- 
thers in the caufe of juftice. We therefore, Sir, hope you 
will not call on ns again, or give us any further trouble a- 
bout your bufinefs, as your conduct has been as impudent 
and ralcally, as it is intriguing; and as you have been 
very felicitous to obtain our Signatures, we herewith fub- 
fcribe to you, after exprefling a fmall poition of our fenti« 
ments relpe&ing you and your bufinefs. 

" Timothy Beach, Ephraim Cleveland, Jehiel Ferris, 
Philip Belinus, Jarus Cook, John Green, Elihu Smead, 
Reuben Cafe, Eiias Locmis, Levi Scper, Ammi Swain, 
David White, Scytavus Elworth, John Lindley, Paul 
Dewit, Cephas Campbell, James Campbell, Oliver 
Hoit, Daniel Buron, Samuel Satterlee, Samuel Bowers, 
Eliflm Lathrop, Jacob Miller, Nathan Fellows, John 
Dobbins, Mofes Calkins, Jofeph Barber, Samuel Bidding, 
William Johnfon, Henry Lawrence, Ifaac Swain, 
David Campbell, Noadiah Kendall, James Brapher, 
Conftant Williams, Ifaac Balding, Dutee Rice, Dama- 
rious Gerrould, John Barber, David Rofs, Oliver Haize, 
Caleb Williams, Nathan Ballad, Ebenezer Kendall, 
William Knap, Amos Cook, Walter Hamilton, Thomas 
Ballad, jun. Jonathan Goatridge, Luther Godard, 
Nathaniel Allen, Stephen Bates, William Nicols, Jere- 
miah Weftcoat, Jeremiah Miller, Thomas Ballad, Lewis 
MorTett, Nathan Morgan, Ebenezar Wilfon, jun. 
C. Ferris." 



I> IN 



L *6 j 

IN addition to the preceding fpecimen of the infolence 
of the Connecticut Intruders, and thoir outrageoufiy fet- 
ting at defiance the principles of jaflice, and the laws of 
their country, full and ample teftimony of their inveterate 
enmity to morality and the principles of thefocial compact, 
could ealily be adduced by a re-publication of thofe fhanie- 
ful productions which appeared in the Luzerne Federalift, 
during the courfe of '.all year, and which are referred to, in 
the foregoing Petition. But as they are too lengthy 
ior iniertion here, a few fhort extracts will be given from 
thofe productions, which are faifely Ityled " A Statement of 
Facls, by the Prefident and Directors of the Sufquehannah 
Company," &c. 

From the Luzerne Federal i /I, of September 24th, 1803, 
" In the latter part of Auguftor beginning of September, 
1 762, near 200 Connecticut People, left their native State, 
to leek a future fublitlence in the wilds of Sufquehannah, 
having as they thought a juft right fo to do." [ That is, in 
other words, a right to feize and rob the honeft part of 
the communhy of their property, without a fhadow of title 
thereto.] Again, fame paper — "The 15th day of October, 
the next year, thefe people were attacked by a party of Indi- 
ans, nearly twenty of them killed, and the remainder ei- 
ther captivated or difperfed." [ Here to be fure is a woe- 
ful affair! the " untutored," unlettered and unbaptifed 
lavages of the wildernefs, were determined to defend at 
every hazard, that property which had been folemnly fe- 
cured to them by treaty, even againft the followers of the 
faithful — the pious Yankies, whofe hiftorians, or other 
writers, had declared thatlhe Lord had delivered the land of the 
heathen into their hands /] Same paper — " In this fituation, 
the country remained until 1769, when the perfevering 
Yankies, unwilling to forego their profpefts at the Suf^ 
quehannah, emigrated again from their native State, in 
number about 240. They armed early in the fpring; 
creeled new habitations ; cleared land and planted 
coin, &c. But were not peimitted long to remain 
in peace; Col. Francis of Philadelphia, was fent againft 

them, 



C *7 3 

them, with a body of armed men, and demanded 
them to furrender ; they refilled to comply with this re- 
cpiifition, and Francis and his party withdrew, after giving 
out many threats of vengeance. But in the month of 
September following, Amos and Nathan Ogden, with a 
partyof Pennfylvania and New-Jerfey men, were fkulking 
about the iettlement, and committing many outrages on 
the Settlers. This party having foon encreafed to rifing 
of 200, appeared openly on the ground, well armed 
with rifles, mufkets and one cannon, with a determination 
to drive the Settlers out of the country. To this formida- 
ble force, the Settlers were obliged to fubmit ar.d quit the 
premifes, all but 14 men, who were permitted to tarry on 
the ground, and keep poffdlion of the land till the dif- 
pute mould be fettled in ;i legal way." — [How well the 
Connecticut Intruders have adhered to this ftipulation, 
their fubfequent perfidy and violation of engagements, will 
atteft to the world.'] One more extnicl from the fame 
paper, "January 1771, Charles Stewart, the two 
Ogdens, and a party, of armed men, arrived again at 
Wyoming, and made feveral attempts to fet fire to the 
lioufes of the Settlers, threatening them with immediate 
deflru&ion; the Settlers defended themfelves in the bell 
manner they could, killed Nathan Ogden, while attempting 
to fet fire to one of their houfes ; upon this the whole 
party withdrew. Capt. Lazarus Stewart, foon after 
returned, leaving about ten families in poffeflion of z 
block-houfe;. they were taken, however, foon after an J 
the men fent to goal. The Pennfylvania Claimants had 
now cleared the Wyoming fettlements of all the Yan- 
kees ; but remained in poffeffion no longer than July th« 
fame year, at which time, upwards of ico Yankees again 
returned, under the command of the then captains Zebu- 
Ion Buttler and Lazarus Stewart, and laid feige to a fort 
commanded by a Col. Clayton." [Thus did thefe diftur- 
bers of the peace and profperity of Pennfylvania, perfevere 
in their wicked and unwarrantable defign of violently appro- 
priating the property of this State to themfelves and their 
adherents.] 

In 



L 28 ] 

In the Luzerne Federahft, of O<51ober8th, 1803, we find 
the following expreffions. •* If Pcnnfylvania had a juffc 
claim to the lands, the Connecticut fettlers have paid for it 
by their richefr. blood." — " Pennfylvania made juftices of 
the Peace, or rather gave mencommiffionsofthe Peace — whe- 
to ther do juftice or.not, let our readers determine, " — "Capt. 
Chriftie arrived at Wyoming, efcorted by a large number of 
voluntary hirelings, fent on by the Pennfylvania Claim- 
ants." — Thefe expreffions require no comment, — In the 
fame paper, of the 15th of October, 1803 — the Pennfylvani- 
ans are ftyled " Rioters," "Free-booters" and " Ruffians." 

The fame Luzerne Federalift, of the 2 2d of October, 
1803, after giving a detailed fbtement of the return of 
votes at the election held in that county, very triumphant- 
ly and iignificantly adds the following remarks, 

" The enemies of Federalifm have exulted exceedingly 
at the fuccefs of what they are pleafed to call the Demo- 
cratic Republican ticket, at the late election. The facl is 
this: a majority of the cleclors of Luzerne, have a full belief 
in the -validity of the ConneBicui title to lands in this county, 
and evince more fpirit in fupport if its advocates than on any 
other occafion. Col. Franklin, is well known to be a 
decided Federalift, and a firm Tanhee; he has a greater 
number of votes than any other candidate. Cols. Jenkins 
and Hyde, were nominated by the Democratic delegates 
who met at Hancock's ; they were fuccefsful ; not as De- 
mocrats, but as Tankia, — and as fuch, received the fup- 
port of many decided Federalifts." 



Tit 



L" *9 1 



The following is cxtraBed from the Luzerne FederaM of 
December \otb, 1803, but does not apparently appear 
to have been ijfued by the Sufquehannah Company. 

« COMMUNICATION. 
" To the People in the Fifteen Towns. 

" AS the time is now drawing near, when you will be 
ealled upon to come forward and deliver up your old 
deeds and documents, refpeding a juft and righteous title 
to your lands, for which you are to receive "a little lit 
t/f paper," called a certificate; permit me to call your fe- 
rious and candid attention to the following queftions. 

1 ft. If the controverfy is to be fettled in the mode of 
adjuftment now purfuing, why is it neceflary that you 
■• mould be obliged to iurrender up the evidence of your 
title, as derived from the ftate of Connecticut ; unlefs it 
be to enable the State of Pennfylvania, to make you 
back the fame title, and oblige you to pay for it into 
the bargain: 

2nd. Would a title thus made out, be thought more 
juft, more legal, and be held more iacred, than our title 
in its primitive ftate? If not, then are you not going to 
obligate yourfelves to pay for that, for which you have al- 
ready paid and which you have already got a LEGAiv 

RIGHT TO ? 

' 3rd. If your title as derived from the State of Connect 

Iq .ticut (as your opponents pretend) " a no title," and your 

■ claim "unfounded," why do they demand your title 

deeds? Is it not for this plain reafon, viz. knowing that not 

one of you out of an hundred, will ever be able to pay for your 

lands, as appraifed under the Comnromifing Law, they winY 

to 



t 3° ] 

to get your evidence, of a title as derived from the 
State of Connecticut, into their own hands, that hereafter 
(fhould you he reduced to a (tate.of tenantage) it may dot 
befet up againft their unjuft pretentions ? 

4th. But is there not another reafon why they ought 
not to demand your old deeds and documents ? The law 
as it was fir ft patted, did not require a condition of that 
kind ; but after you had consented to comply with the 
law in its firft fhape, new conditions were annexed ; there- 
fore is it not unconftituiional and unjuft, to demand that 
which was not in the condition of the contract, when firft 
entered into? 

5th. What is the nature of a Compromise ? Is it not a 
mutual adjultment of differences between two or more 
contending parties, in which each party has a right to 
make part of the bargain, and did you make any part 
of that law, commonly called the Conipromifing Law ? Were 
you even confulted on the bufmefs, or did they fend it. 
forth to you as an imperious lord fends forth a mandate tohb 
flares ? Do this or prepare yourfelves for a fcourging! 

6th. Hare you not already had fufficient experience ' 
of the faith of this State, did they not orce pafs a law 
called a "Confirming Law" (to induce you to come under 
their jurifdiclion) and after you had confented to come 
under their government, did they not repeal that law, on 
the ground of its being unconftitutionalr" 

7th. Do you remember the promifes of Armftrong 
and Boyd, that they on the eighth day of Auguft, 1784, 
pledged the Faith of Government, (Pennfylvania,) 
and their own honor, that if you would lay down your .• 
arms, no advantage fhould be taken on that account and 
that you fhould have them again in ten days ; and after- 
wards, how fome of you were put in irons, coupled two 
aqd two, bound with ropes, and fent to Eafton jail, under 
thefe directions, from Armfirong and Boyd, that if one 

OV 



■c 3' : 

of you attempted to efcape, the whole fliould immediately 
be put to death! and government would ftand between 
them (the Ruffians who guarded you) and any blame? 
It was not enough for you to furrender your arms, and 
never get them again ; but now, forfooth, you are demanded 
to furrender your deeds and documents, reflecting a title 
which they dare not put thcii's in competition with in % 
f«iir, candid, arid impartial trial. 

scanderbeg:> 



Luzerne county, Nor. 1803. 



■ There being fo Utile to be found in the Tankee paper, adverfe (9 
their title, that ive cannot forbear extracting the following, 
(in reply to the preceding communication,) from tin 
Lucerne, Federalijl, of the 17th, of December, 1803. 

« COMMUNICATION. 

u Dec. 15 thy 1803. 
" Mejfrs. Miners. 
" MUCH of you paperhas been occupiedby the Prefident' 
and Directors of the Sufquehannah Company, as well as 
by many other writers in fupport of what they call a juft 
and righteous title ; all legal modes of trial having failed 
their purpofes, one would have expected that after their ap- 
peal to the people, the fubject would be at reft, having 
been allowed to fay every thing they pleafed without con- 
tradiction, notwithftanding the many grofs errors and mif- 
reprefentations therein by them made, well known to the 
Old Settlers and thofe con verfant with the tranfaclions of 
thofe times; but we yet fee your paper the vehicle of 
inflammatory communications. The object of a com- 
munication publilhed in your paper of the 10U1 inftant, 

may 






I 32 ] 

may eafily be conceived, there can be no doubt the writer 
is not an inhabitant of the 15 townfhips, or did not be- 
long to them at the time of the palling cf the Aft of 
1799, called the Quieting Ad, and fecondiy, that he has 
an interest to ferve, different from the Settlers in the town- 
(hips and which the Quieting Aft does not reach, whofe 
objeft and views no doubt would be to let every thing 
afloat, and by this means, hinder the peace, happinefs, and 
order of fociety among ourfclves, and the laws of our 
government from being carried into efleft, and in the e- 
vent rather fee the valuable improvements in the town- 
fhips laid wafre, than fee them pro fper under the prefent 
encouraging mode of fettling the diiputes in the townfhips. 

He mentions a little bit of paper, with fneering and de- 
rifion; What does this little bit of paper contain ? Afk a 
Settler in the 15 townihips who has received his certifi- 
cate, and he will tell you it contains a draft of the lands 
claimed and certified agreeeble to law, by the State 
commiflioners, and is the ground for a title : It alio fet- 
tles and fhuts out other Claimants of either Pennfylvania 
or Connecticut, puts an end to all controveriies that may 
have been heretofore fuppofed to have exifted, and places: 
theiitles in the 15 townfhips on an original and hire bails. 
The Claimants are already feeling the advantage thereof. 
Property is rifing in value near an hundred per cent, 
and who will doubt their ability to pay the eafy inflal- 
nients of the valuation, when compared with the advan- 
cing prices. Thefe circum fiances may be mortifying to 
fome, but a pleafing faft to the holders of the little bit 
of paper called a certificate. 

I fhall now notice Mr. Scanderbeg's queflions in their 
order. 

The firft queftion he afks <' Why is it neceflary to deli* 
ver up the evidence of your title, Sec 1" 



*I anfwer, the law has made it neceflary. 



3477-251 

Lot-3# 



Second 



[ 33 1 

Second queftion — " Will the title thus made out, be 
more le*al than our title:" 

I anfwer, your titles are not recognized by the law, 
but thefc titles are. 

Third queflion — <{ Why demand your title deeds." 

I anfwer, to prevent fraud and litigation. 

Fourth queftion — ■" Is it not unconftitutional and un- 
jufl:, to demand that which was not in the condition of 
the contract when firft entered into:" 

I anfwer, that an amendment to the Act was afl:ed 
for by the Claimants, by way of fupplmeent to the Ad, 
and if this can be compared to an agreement between 
parties, any amendment that was thought to he a general 
good, and not a partial evil to the parties, when the Act 
was open for amendment, was juft and right to be adopted. 
This with the foregoing anfwers and introduction may 
fuffice to anfwer the fifth, fixth and feventh queiHons. 

PACIFICUS." 



This publication fhall now be brought to a clofe, with a 
few curfory obfervations. The few extracts which are 
given from the publications in the Luzerne Federalift, will 
furely be deemed by every difpaffionate perfon to abound 
with unfounded afTertions, bafe defamation, and moil in. 
ftammatoryftimulants, to the ungovernable paffions of a wild 
and diforderly fet of adventurers. Confequently, tho' 
they may not fully exonerate the much abufed Captain 
Patterfon, for the epithets he has thought proper to ufe, 
yet they will undoubtedly tend greatly to extenuate his 
fault. 

There 



t 34 ] 

There is another remark, alike due to the caufe of 
the truth, order, government and the Pennfylvania Claim, 
and that is, the Connecticut Intruders cannot (hew the 
fmalleft particle of title to the lands in queftjon. They 
are, in every fenfe of the word, Intruders. They never 
made a fair or bona fide purchafe of thofe lands from the 
Indians — and even if they done fo (which, however, it 
is llrenuoufly contended they did not) it. was a perfectly il- 
legal and unauthorifed Act* no Legiflature upon the face of 
the earth, having, ever authorifed them to make fuch a 
purchafe, not a (ingle cent was ever paid by the Sufquehan- 
nah Company, either to the State of Pennfylvania, or 
the State of Connecticut, for the lands in Luzerne 
county. This afTertion can be unqueHionably proven 
by a uumber of authentic criminal documents remaining in 
the Land-office of Penniylvania. Auiong thefe, are the 
orders from the King of Great-Britain, to the Governor 
of Pennfylvania, before the revolution, to expel the 
Yankee Intruders, from what is now called the county 
of Luzerne; and the letters which pafTed between Go- 
vernor Hamilton and the Governor of Connecticut on 
this interefting fubjccl. It will clearly appear from the let- 
ters, that the Governor of Connecticut moll unequivcally 
declares that the State of Conneclicut had never fold, 
nor authorifed any intrufion upon the lands of Pennfyl- 
vania, that Connecticut had never inftituted or created 
any fuch afTociations as the Siifjjuehannah or Delaware 
Companies, and would therefore urge nothing in behalf 
of thofe Intruders. From this plain and fair ilatemcnt 
of facts, every man will be capable of judging with what 
truth that wandering horde of Connecticut Adventures, 
could fay they believed they had a just title to the lands 
in controverfy. If, as they impioufly a:Tert, they derive it 
from THE GOD OF NATURE, let them ihew their 
title deeds! 



ERRATA. 
Immediately after the catch word " peace," at the 
bottom of page 8, add the following words, "for the 
more immediately introducing the laws" 




















































































































































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